HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College men's basketball team (2-1) kicked off their 2023-24 home slate with a wire-to-wire, 70-65 victory over the Lycoming Warriors (2-2) Wednesday evening at Gooding '84 Arena.
Haverford showcased a balanced offensive effort with four players reaching double figures. Senior Brandon Banadda led the way with 16 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the free-throw line, and contributed six rebounds. First-year guards Gaven Marr (14 points, five rebounds) and Nick Klaiber (11 points) made notable contributions, while Gabriel Franklin added 12 points. First-year post Logan Brown dominated the glass with nine rebounds.
The Fords set the tone early, embarking on an 8-2 run highlighted by back-to-back triples from Nicholas Stewart and Marr. Franklin's layup extended the lead to 12-4, and Klaiber's layup pushed the lead further to 12-4. Lycoming responded with a 7-2 run, closing the gap to 16-14, but a 9-0 Haverford run, culminating in a Franklin layup, pushed the advantage back to 25-14. Franklin's three-pointer extended the lead to 15, and Klaiber's three-point play at the stripe extended it to 18. Lycoming fought back, narrowing the gap to seven by halftime.
The second half saw the Fords increase their lead to 10 out of the gates, propelled by Banadda's back-to-back layups. Marr's three-pointer gave the hosts a 12-point cushion, and a 55-40 lead was secured with 12:37 remaining after Ali Kaan Bek's layup.
Lycoming mounted an 8-0 run, trimming the lead back down to seven, but Franklin's three-pointer restored the double-digit advantage. A 6-2 spurt from the Warriors brought them within just five with 7:41 to go.
Down the stretch, the Warriors steadily built momentum, threatening to snatch a victory despite not leading until that point. J.J. Beagle's free throws and a second-chance layup brought Lycoming within only one point. A well-timed timeout by Haverford set up a huge steal by Klaiber on the ensuing inbounds with just 47 seconds to go. Crucial free throws from Klaiber and Marr secured a 70-65 victory for the hosts.
Lycoming was led by Beagle with 17 points, and supported by Isaiah Valentine (16 points) and Steven Hamilton (15 points). Valentine and Beagle each grabbed eight rebounds, while Hamilton contributed five assists and two steals.
Haverford held a shooting percentage advantage of 36.8 to 34.6 percent and their proficiency at the free-throw line, going 14-for-15, played a crucial role in securing the win. The Fords capitalized on a 14-10 offensive rebounding advantage, translating into 13 second-chance points.
This matchup marked the second meeting in the series between the Fords and the Warriors, with Haverford previously securing an 82-64 victory in Williamsport during the 2019 season.
Next, the Fords will face off against the Knights of Arcadia in a non-conference battle in Glenside on Saturday, with the game scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m.